Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015
What is this act about?
This law amends the Child Care Act 1991 to introduce and regulate "aftercare plans" for young people who have been in the care of the Child and Family Agency, and to allow for the inspection of premises for early years services.
Who it applies to: "Eligible children" (aged 16 or over, in or previously in care for at least 12 months since age 13); "Eligible adults" (aged 18, 19, or 20, in care for at least 12 months in the 5 years before turning 18).
Deadlines:
- "Eligible children" (aged 16 or over, in or previously in care for at least 12 months since age 13).
- "Eligible adults" (aged 18, 19, or 20, in care for at least 12 months in the 5 years before turning 18).
- Assistance under an aftercare plan can be provided until the person reaches 21 years of age.
At a glance
- Country
- Ireland
- Area of law
- Family law
- Articles
- 16
- Source
- irishstatutebook.ie
- Text retrieved
- Explanation updated
What does this act regulate?
- The preparation and updating of aftercare plans for eligible children and adults.
- The assessment of needs for these individuals before an aftercare plan is created.
- The types of assistance the Child and Family Agency can provide through these plans.
- The inspection of premises intended for early years services.
Who does this act apply to?
- "Eligible children" (aged 16 or over, in or previously in care for at least 12 months since age 13).
- "Eligible adults" (aged 18, 19, or 20, in care for at least 12 months in the 5 years before turning 18).
- The Child and Family Agency.
What are the key points?
- The Child and Family Agency must prepare an aftercare plan for eligible children and adults, subject to available resources.
- Assistance under an aftercare plan can be provided until the person reaches 21 years of age.
- If a person is completing education, assistance may continue until the completion of the course or the end of the academic year during which they turn 23, whichever is earlier.
- An "assessment of need" must be carried out before an aftercare plan is prepared, covering areas like education, finance, employment, health, and accommodation.
Family law
Legal text
Legal text
Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2015 Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 45 of 2015 Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 CONTENTS Section
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11
Section 12
Section 13
Section 14
Section 15
Section 16
PART 1
Miscellaneous Amendments to Principal Act
PART 2
Amendments to Other Acts SCHEDULE 2 Acts Repealed Acts Referred to Child and Family Agency Act 2013 (No. 40) Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 (No. 19) Child Care Act 1991 (No. 17) Child Care Acts 1991 to 2015 Children Act 2001 (No. 24) Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (No. 7) Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 (No. 23) Health Act 2004 (No. 42) Health Act 2007 (No. 23) Number 45 of 2015 CHILD CARE (AMENDMENT) ACT 2015 An Act to provide for the preparation by the Child and Family Agency of aftercare plans to provide for the giving of assistance by the Agency, subject to the resources available to the Agency, to meet the needs of certain persons who have been in the care of that Agency; to provide for the inspection of premises in which it is proposed to provide early years service; and for those and other purposes, to amend the Child Care Act 1991 ; the Children Act 2001 ; the Health Act 2007; the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 ; and to provide for related matters. [10th December, 2015] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:
Definitions 1. In this Act— “Act of 2011” means the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 ; “Principal Act” means the Child Care Act 1991 .
Amendment of section 2 of Principal Act 2. Section 2 of the Principal Act is amended— (a) by the insertion of the following definitions in subsection (1): “ ‘Act of 2011’ means the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 ; ‘aftercare plan’ means an aftercare plan prepared under section 45B or 45C; ‘assessment of need’ shall be construed in accordance with section 45A; ‘eligible adult’, subject to subsections (1A) and (1B), means a person aged 18, 19 or 20 years who was in the care of the Child and Family Agency for a period of not less than 12 months in the 5 year period immediately prior to the person attaining the age of 18 years; ‘eligible child’, subject to subsections (1C) and (1D), means a child aged 16 years or over who— (a) is in the care of the Child and Family Agency and has been in the care of the Agency for a period of not less than 12 months since attaining the age of 13 years, or (b) was in the care of the Child and Family Agency for a period of not less than 12 months since attaining the age of 13 years but is no longer in the care of the Agency;”, and (b) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1): “(1A) (a) Where prior to the coming into operation of section 82 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 a person was in the care of the Health Service Executive in accordance with this Act for any period of time in the 5 year period immediately prior to the person attaining the age of 18 years, that period of time shall be considered as time spent in the care of the Child and Family Agency for the purpose of satisfying the 12 month period referred to in the definition of eligible adult. (b) Where a person was in the care of the Child and Family Agency for a period (including a period referred to in paragraph (a)) of less than 12 months in the 5 year period immediately prior to the person attaining the age of 18 years, a period of time spent by that person in accommodation made available by the Agency, or by the Health Service Executive prior to the coming into operation of section 82 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 , under section 5 in the 5 year period immediately prior to the person attaining the age of 18 years shall be reckonable for the purpose of satisfying the 12 month period referred to in the definition of eligible adult. (1B) A reference in the definition of eligible adult to the care of the Child and Family Agency includes— (a) a reference to the care of the Child and Family Agency pursuant to an interim special care order or a special care order under Part IVA, and
(b) on or after the coming into operation of section 10 of the Act of 2011, a reference to special care within the meaning of Part IVA. (1C) (a) Where prior to the coming into operation of section 82 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 a child was in the care of the Health Service Executive in accordance with this Act for any period of time since attaining the age of 13 years, that period of time shall be considered as time spent in the care of the Child and Family Agency for the purpose of satisfying the 12 month period referred to in the definition of eligible child. (b) Where a child is or has been in the care of the Child and Family Agency for a period (including a period referred to in paragraph (a)) of less than 12 months since attaining the age of 13 years, a period of time spent by the child in accommodation made available by the Agency, or by the Health Service Executive prior to the coming into operation of section 82 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 , under section 5 since attaining the age of 13 years shall be reckonable for the purpose of satisfying the 12 month period referred to in the definition of eligible child. (1D) A reference in the definition of eligible child to the care of the Child and Family Agency includes— (a) a reference to the care of the Child and Family Agency pursuant to an interim special care order or a special care order under Part IVA, and (b) on or after the coming into operation of section 10 of the Act of 2011, a reference to special care within the meaning of Part IVA.”.
Amendment of section 23J of Principal Act 3. Section 23J of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of “42 and 47” for “42, 45 and 47”.
Amendment of section 23NO of Principal Act 4. Section 23NO (inserted by section 10 of the Act of 2011) is amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (b): “(b) (i) the provision of care under this Act to a child when a special care order or an interim special care order made in respect of that child ceases to have effect, and (ii) the assistance which may be provided by the Child and Family Agency in accordance with an aftercare plan where a person has been the subject of an interim special care order or a special care order and is an eligible child or eligible adult, and”.
Amendment of section 45 of Principal Act 5. The Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 45: “Aftercare plan 45. (1) Subject to section 45A and subsection (3), the Child and Family Agency shall, in accordance with sections 45B or 45C, prepare an aftercare plan for an eligible child or an eligible adult, as the case may be, setting out the assistance that may be provided by the Agency to the eligible child on or after he or she attains the age of 18 years or to the eligible adult.
Assessment of need 6. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 45 (amended by section 5 ): “Assessment of need 45A. (1) The Child and Family Agency shall, prior to preparing an aftercare plan under section 45B or 45C, carry out an assessment (in this Act referred to as an ‘assessment of need’) of the needs of an eligible child on attaining the age of 18 years or an eligible adult, as the case may be.
Aftercare plan - eligible child 7. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 45A (inserted by section 6 ): “Aftercare plan - eligible child 45B. (1) The Child and Family Agency shall, where any need is identified in an assessment of need carried out in respect of an eligible child in the care of the Agency, prepare an aftercare plan for that child.
Aftercare plan - eligible adult 8. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 45B (inserted by section 7 ): “Aftercare plan - eligible adult 45C. (1) An eligible adult or a person authorised in writing to make a request on behalf of an eligible adult may request the Child and Family Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for the eligible adult where the Agency has not previously prepared a plan for that eligible adult.
Review and update of aftercare plan 9. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 45C (inserted by section 8 ): “Review and update of aftercare plan 45D. (1) A person in respect of whom an aftercare plan is in operation, or a person who is authorised in writing to make a request on his or her behalf, may request the Child and Family Agency to review the operation of the plan where— (a) there has been a significant change in the circumstances of the person to whom the plan relates since the preparation of, or last review of, that plan, (b) the assistance being provided under that plan is not meeting a need of the person as identified in the assessment of need, or (c) the person requires additional assistance— (i) to that set out in that plan to meet the needs identified in the assessment of need, or (ii) to meet any additional need which has arisen since that assessment of need was carried out.
Amendment of section 58D of Principal Act 10. Section 58D of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (8): “(8A) The Agency shall refuse to register an applicant where the applicant— (a) refuses to allow an authorised person, in accordance with subsection (1A) of section 58J, to enter the premises in which the applicant proposes to provide the prescribed early years service, or (b) obstructs or impedes an authorised person in the exercise of any of his or her powers under subsection (3A) of that section.”.
Amendment of section 58H of Principal Act 11. Section 58H of the Principal Act is amended by— (a) the designation of the section as subsection (1), and (b) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1): “(2) The Agency may cause to be visited the premises in which an applicant proposes to provide a prescribed early years service to ascertain if the premises comply with this Part.”.
Amendment of section 58J of Principal Act 12. Section 58J of the Principal Act is amended by— (a) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1): “(1A) An authorised person may, at all reasonable times, enter any premises in which an applicant proposes to provide a prescribed early years service for the purpose of ascertaining if the premises comply with this Part.”, and (b) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3): “(3A) An authorised person who enters any premises in accordance with subsection (1A) may make such examination into the condition of the premises as may be necessary for the purposes of this Part.”.
Miscellaneous amendments to Principal Act 13. The provisions of the Principal Act specified in column (2) of
Part 1
of Schedule 1 are amended to the extent specified in column (3) of that Part.
Amendments to other Acts 14. Each Act specified in columns (2) and (3) of
Part 2
of Schedule 1 is amended to the extent specified in column (4) of that Part.
Repeals 15. Each Act specified in columns (2) and (3) of Schedule 2 is repealed to the extent specified in column (4).
Short title, collective citation and commencement 16. (1) This Act may be cited as the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015.
SCHEDULE 1 Miscellaneous Amendments
Section 13
Part 1
Miscellaneous Amendments to Principal Act Item
2 section 15 (amended by section 105 of and Item 2 Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Health Act 2007 ) Substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive”.
3 section 18 (amended by section 8 of the Act of 2011) In subsection (9) (inserted by section 8 of the Act of 2011), substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive”.
4 section 19 (amended by section 9 of the Act of 2011) In subsection (8) (inserted by section 9 of the Act of 2011), substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive”.
5 Part IVA (amended by section 10 of the Act of 2011) In the whole Part, substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive” in each place where it occurs.
In section 23B(4) (amended by section 10 of the Act of 2011), substitute “ section 58 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 ” for “section 38 (as amended by the Act of 2007) of the Health Act 2004 ”.
In section 23B(5) (amended by section 10 of the Act of 2011), substitute “ section 58 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 ” for “section 38 (as amended by the Act of 2007) of the Health Act 2004 .”.
In section 23F (amended by section 97 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013), substitute the following subsection for subsection (12): “(12) Where the Health Service Executive convened a family welfare conference in respect of a child pursuant to subsection (5) and a determination was not made by the Health Service Executive pursuant to subsection (7) before the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, that Agency shall be deemed for the purposes of this section to have convened the conference.”.
6 section 26 (amended by section 13 of the Act of 2011) In subsections (2C) and (3A) (inserted by section 13 of the Act of 2011), substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive” in each place where it occurs.
7 section 36 In subsection (1), insert “subject to subsection (4),” after “Child and Family Agency,”, and insert the following subsection after subsection (3): “(4) A placement referred to in subsection (1) shall not be made in respect of a child who is the subject of a special care order or an interim special care order during the period for which that order has effect.”.
8 section 37 (amended by section 21 of the Act of 2011) In subsection (1A) (inserted by section 21 of the Act of 2011), substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive” in each place where it occurs.
9 section 38 (amended by section 105 of and Item 5 Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Health Act 2007) In subsections (1) and (2), substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive” in each place where it occurs.
10 section 46 In subsection (1), insert “, other than special care under Part IVA,” after “in the care of the Child and Family Agency”.
11 section 47 Insert “subject to section 23NK (inserted by section 10 of the Act of 2011)”, after “in the care of the Child and Family Agency”.
Part 2
Amendments to Other Acts
Section 14
Item
Section 8:
In subsection (1)(d) (inserted by section 29 of the Act of 2011), substitute “Child and Family Agency” for “Health Service Executive”.
2 No. 23 of 2007 Health Act 2007
Section 41:
Substitute the following for subsection (1)(a): “(a) inspect the performance— (i) by the Executive of the Executive’s functions under section 10 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 , and (ii) by the Agency of the Agency’s functions under sections 39 to 42 and section 53 of the Child Care Act 1991 ,”.
3
Section 45:
(a) Substitute the following subsection for subsection (1) — “(1) The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, by written direction, may require the Agency to carry out inspections of children’s residential centres, as defined in section 2
4
Section 64 (amended by section 97 of and Item 10 Part 20 of Schedule 2 to the
Child and Family Agency Act 2013 ):
In subsections (1) to (4), substitute “Executive or the Agency as the case may be” for “Executive or the Agency as the case may” in each place where it occurs.
5 No. 40 of 2013 Child and Family Agency Act 2013 In section 57(2), substitute “Part VIIA” for “Part VII”.
SCHEDULE 2 Acts Repealed
Section 15
Item
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